Election '93.

District 60 Races Have Racial Tint

October 15, 1993|By Rhoda E. McKinney, Tribune Staff Writer.

Lake County's most congested school board election is boiling down to an ideological tug of war over race and money in Waukegan District 60.

"I'm pretty sure this election will create some excitement," said Rev. Olen Arrington, principal of Lyon Magnet School. "But I think it will be a healthy election, one that will help Waukegan move forward."

Only one minority serves on the board of District 60, which has 12,000 students, at least 70 percent of them Hispanic or African American. That fact doesn't sit well with many residents.

Whether real or imagined, critics say the board is not sensitive to minority concerns, and they want changes to reflect the city's ethnic makeup.

The concern over the racial composition of the board was sparked, in part, by the demotion this spring of the two popular minority administrators.

But leaders in the minority community say they also are frustrated with the way the board has made budget cuts to plug a $1.1 million deficit, including eliminating some bilingual aides and increasing class sizes.

Fifteen candidates, including Board President Patricia Palbicke Foley and three other incumbents, are running in the Nov. 2 election for five positions.

The field also includes what some minority leaders have called a "rainbow coalition" slate. These candidates want to address a number of educational issues, including concerns about racial insensitivity.

"I am supporting the slate because that seems to be the only viable alternative," said Eddie Washington, a grass-roots organizer. "The present board is part of our problem, and we need to look for a fresh approach. The slate brings youth and new ideas. Hopefully, they will show sensitivity, not to just a few, but to everybody."

On the slate are incumbent Margaret Carrasco and clerical technician Edna Nieves, who are Hispanics; Anita Hanna, a longtime community worker and Rev. John E. Hillary Sr., who are African Americans; and Michael Mathena, a manager at the Zion nuclear plant, who is white.

The other candidates besides Foley and the coalition slate are Hank Levy, retired supervisor of the district's Art/Music and Library Media Services; June Maguire, the board vice president; Karl Newyear, a graphic designer; William Pierce, a retired U.S. Steel supervisor; Charles Willms, senior vice president of a local advertising firm; Lawrence Zupec, a service representative for Ameritech; John Balen, a retired County Board member; incumbent Theodore Potkonjak, an attorney; and Marilynn Moisio, a medical secretary.

They are all whites except for Pierce, who is African American.

The school board members not up for election are Barbara Ramsey and Robert Taylor. Jack Mallory is not seeking re-election.

"There is not equal representation on the board," said Nieves, who has two children in District 60 schools. "Our voices are not being heard, and nobody is listening. . . . They are closed to the needs of our children.

"We talk about reclaiming our cities, but how can we talk about that when we haven't reclaimed our children."

Several candidates, including Nieves, said their decisions to run were influenced by the demotions of school administrators Sylvia Zon and Roudell Kirkwood. Because of pending litigation, school officials have not cited the reasons for Kirkwood's demotion. In Zon's case, the board claimed she did not perform adequately on the job.

Zon, who was principal of North Elementary School before being reassigned, was District 60's only Hispanic administrator. Kirkwood was the assistant principal at Jefferson Middle School.

Foley and Maguire insist the board acted properly in both cases, and they expressed frustration over what they say is character assassination by board critics. There are many misconceptions about the board in the minority community, they say.

While nine bilingual aides were cut from the budget, the programs were not, Foley said. At least four bilingual classes were added since the school year began in August, she said. The district found money in the budget to beef up its multicultural programs, and there are several African-American administrators working for the district, Foley said.

She also said the district is experiencing a cash crunch because state government has not provided a proper share of school funding.

"All students . . . deserve the best," said Foley, a retired math teacher. "I feel what we are doing is across the board. But sometimes special groups want special preferences. We really didn't cut the programs. . . . Parents and the community must also help themselves. Our doors are always open. They are not closed by any means."

Despite Foley's comments, some minority leaders and residents remain unconvinced about the board's concerns for fairness.

"I think when 40 percent of the schools are Hispanic, and the board is not sensitive. There is a definite problem," said Lucy Rios, operator of a firm that provides secretarial services and a supporter of the rainbow slate.

"This year, we our going to make sure our people vote so we can have fair representation and so our children can have a better education. . . . If we fail, we won't give up. We'll just keep on working until we win."